By Daily Sports on August 3, 2017

Experienced Edo State grassroots football campaigners Ine Stars of Benin City are looking like champions elect as they have secured two wins out of two games in the final round of the current Edo State League.

The 2017 league season is coming to an end on Sunday afternoon (August 6) and there are four teams left who are playing a round robbin tournament to decide the league winners.

In match day one of the final round played last Monday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Ine Stars walloped Graceland FC of Ekpoma 5-1. All the goals came in the second half as Ine showed beautiful combination play and use of the flanks to overwhelm a stubborn Graceland.

In the second match of the day, surprise package Pearlmag FC beat Royal Force FC 1-0. The goal came early in the second half after a goalmouth scramble from a corner kick.

Royal Force responded with a lot of smoke as they piled on intense pressure on Pearlmag to score the leveler, but the Ikpoba Hill based side showed resilient defending to ensure there was no fire to burn their lead away.

Pearlmag have a strong, youthful and energetic side which rarely concedes, but on match day two, last Tuesday, they conceded their first set of goals in the league when they fell 0-2 to Ine Stars.

Given their recent form of winning four games and drawing one, many were tipping Pearlmag as favorites going into the game against Ine, but national team experienced coach Nnamdi Onuigbo’s Ine Stars showed their mettle as they grabbed a brace in the rain to leave their destiny in their own hands heading into their final game.

That final game against Royal Force promises a lot of fire, with Royal Force needing a big win against Ine Stars to stand a chance of winning the league, after they pipped whipping boys Graceland FC 1-0 in their second game.

Royal Force would need at least a 4-0 win against Ine Stars and hope Pearlmag doesn’t record a win of 4 goals and above against Graceland in their final game on Sunday morning.

Pearlmag can only win the league if Royal Force beat Ine Stars and they (with a present goal difference of -1) record a win and result that would put them above Ine Stars (who’s goal difference presently stand at +6) on goal difference.

The first match between Pearlmag and Graceland kicks off by 11 am on Sunday.

The final game would be by 4pm between Royal Force and Ine Stars.

Before the last game, defending champions Benin Warriors, who did not defend their trophy because of unavoidable circumstances, would be involved in a ceremonial match by 2pm against Okhomu FC. The game is part of events to mark the closing ceremony of the state league.

Many important government and sports dignitaries are expected to grace the closing day of the league. Meanwhile, some private individuals have magnanimously donated different gifts for the last four clubs of the league, including brand new sets of jerseys.

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 3, 2017

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